Compendium

DAW and Plugin Catalog — Tier 3 Family Index

14 min read

DAW and Plugin Catalog

Comprehensive catalog of digital audio workstations (Pro Tools, Logic, Ableton, FL Studio, Cubase, Studio One, Reaper, Bitwig, and others), plugin formats (VST, AU, AAX, CLAP, LV2, ARA), and the major commercial plugin ecosystems across EQ, compression, reverb, delay, saturation, virtual instruments, sample libraries, mastering, and AI-enhanced tooling. Covers DAW-less hardware workflows (Elektron, MPC, Push 3) and recent developments through 2024–2025.

1. Major Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs)

Pro Tools (Avid)

  • Origin: Digidesign 1989 (acquired by Avid 1995); industry-standard since mid-1990s
  • Editions: Pro Tools Artist (entry), Studio (mainstream), Ultimate (post-production + film)
  • Subscription model since 2020; perpetual licenses with annual support plans available
  • HDX hardware — Avid’s dedicated DSP cards for AAX DSP plugin processing; required for highest track counts in Pro Tools Ultimate
  • Market position: ~70 percent of professional post-production, film mixing, dialogue editing studios; weaker in electronic/EDM production
  • Workflow strengths: edit precision, automation, console emulation, dialogue, integration with Avid video systems

Logic Pro (Apple)

  • Origin: Emagic Notator 1989 → Logic Audio 1993 → Apple acquisition 2002 → Logic Pro
  • Platform: macOS only (since Apple acquisition)
  • Price: USD 199.99 one-time purchase (no subscription); Logic Pro for iPad USD 4.99/month
  • Included content: ~70 GB of loops, samples, software instruments (Sculpture physical-modeling, EXS24/Sampler, ES2, Alchemy granular/spectral, Drum Machine Designer, Drum Kit Designer)
  • Logic Pro 11 (May 2024) introduced AI Session Players — Drummer (existing) plus new Bass Player and Keyboard Player; Stem Splitter (Spleeter-derived source separation)

Ableton Live (Ableton AG, Berlin)

  • Founded: 2001 (Live 1.0); founders Robert Henke + Gerhard Behles + Bernd Roggendorf
  • Latest: Live 12 (released February 2024); editions Intro (USD 99), Standard (USD 449), Suite (USD 749)
  • Unique feature: Session View — non-linear clip-launching grid for performance/improvisation; Arrangement View for timeline; both coexist
  • Standard for live electronic performance, EDM production, education
  • Push 3 (May 2023) — standalone controller (Intel processor; can run Live in standalone mode without computer) or controller mode; USD 1,999 standalone / USD 999 controller-only
  • Max for Live — Cycling ‘74 Max integration; visual programming environment

FL Studio (Image-Line, Belgium)

  • Origin: FruityLoops 1997 → renamed FL Studio 2003
  • Latest: FL Studio 21 (2023)
  • Editions: Fruity Edition (USD 99), Producer (USD 199), Signature (USD 299), All Plugins Bundle (USD 499), Producer + FL Cloud
  • Lifetime free updates — unique policy; any purchaser gets future versions free
  • Pattern-based sequencing — distinct workflow centered on pattern blocks
  • Popular in: hip-hop production, EDM, trap, beat-making

Cubase (Steinberg, Hamburg)

  • Origin: 1989 first Atari ST MIDI sequencer; pioneered VST plugin format 1996
  • Latest: Cubase 14 (late 2024)
  • Editions: Cubase Elements, Artist, Pro
  • Strengths: deep MIDI editing, scoring, comprehensive feature set
  • Owned by: Yamaha Corporation (acquired 2005)

Nuendo (Steinberg)

  • Post-production sister to Cubase
  • Latest: Nuendo 13 (2024)
  • Adds to Cubase: Dolby Atmos / ADM BWF / object-based mixing, video integration, gaming audio (Wwise + FMOD integration), broadcast metadata, ADR Automated Dialogue Replacement workflow

Studio One (PreSonus → Fender 2021)

  • Origin: 2009 PreSonus
  • Acquired by Fender January 2021
  • Latest: Studio One 6 (2022) → ongoing
  • Modern drag-and-drop workflow; track-mode versatility; integrated mastering page
  • Editions: Studio One Artist (free with PreSonus hardware), Producer, Professional

Reaper (Cockos)

  • Origin: 2005; founder Justin Frankel (also created WinAmp)
  • License: USD 60 individual (commercial), USD 225 business; free 60-day evaluation never enforces lockout
  • Extremely lightweight (~15 MB install); cross-platform Windows/macOS/Linux
  • Massive feature set — comparable to flagship DAWs at fraction of cost
  • Community-driven — ReaScript (Lua, Python, EEL) extensibility; ReaPlugs free plugin suite
  • Latest: Reaper 7 (2023+)

Bitwig Studio (Bitwig GmbH, Berlin)

  • Origin: 2014; founded by former Ableton developers
  • Modular grid + The Grid — visual modular environment within DAW; CV/Gate signal flow
  • Latest: Bitwig Studio 5 (2023)
  • Editions: Producer (USD 199), Studio (USD 399), 16-Track (USD 99)

Reason (Reason Studios, Stockholm)

  • Origin: Propellerhead Reason 2000; renamed Reason Studios 2019
  • Concept: rack of modular synths and effects connected via virtual patch cables (visible by flipping rack)
  • Reason+ subscription USD 19.99/month including Reason Studios Plus instruments
  • Reason 12 (2021)

Other DAWs

  • GarageBand (Apple) — free iOS + macOS; Logic Pro shares engine
  • Cakewalk by BandLab — formerly SONAR (Cakewalk Inc; defunct 2018); resurrected free by BandLab 2018; Windows-only
  • Mixcraft (Acoustica) — Windows budget DAW
  • Audacity — open source 2D audio editor (not full multi-track DAW); 3.5 release 2024; cross-platform; Tenacity fork created over telemetry concerns 2021
  • Tracktion Waveform — UK-based; free Waveform Free tier
  • MuLab — Belgian modular DAW
  • Tunecraft — emerging budget option

DAW-less hardware workflows

  • Elektron (Sweden):
    • Octatrack MKII — 8-track stereo sampler/sequencer/looper; USD 1,499
    • Digitakt II (2024) — sampling drum machine + sequencer; USD 1,049
    • Digitone II (2024) — 4-op + 8-voice FM polyphonic synth; USD 1,049
    • Analog Rytm MK II — analog drum machine + sample layer; USD 1,949
    • Analog Four MK II — 4-voice analog synth
    • Syntakt — drum + synth hybrid; USD 1,049
  • MPC (Akai/inMusic) standalone family:
    • MPC Live II — USD 1,199
    • MPC X SE — USD 1,899 (large screen + I/O)
    • MPC One+ — USD 799
    • MPC Key 61 — USD 1,199 (keyboard-equipped)
  • Push 3 standalone (Ableton 2023) — see above
  • OP-1 field (Teenage Engineering 2022) — USD 1,999; portable synth/sampler/sequencer
  • EP-133 KO II (Teenage Engineering 2023) — USD 299 sampler/composer; tactile silicone buttons
  • Pocket Operator series — TE/Cheap Monday collaboration; USD 89 calculator-form synths

2. Plugin Formats

  • VST (Virtual Studio Technology) — Steinberg 1996; VST3 (2008) modernized API with sample-accurate parameter automation, dynamic I/O; cross-platform; royalty-free SDK
  • AU (Audio Units) — Apple Core Audio plugin format 2002; macOS-only (iOS supports AU v3)
  • AAX (Avid Audio Extension) — Pro Tools-only; replaced RTAS in 2013; AAX Native (CPU) and AAX DSP (Avid HDX cards)
  • CLAP (CLever Audio Plugin) — open standard introduced June 2022 by Bitwig + u-he; alternative to VST3 with permissive license, polyphonic modulation, better threading semantics; growing adoption (Bitwig, Reaper, FL Studio, MultitrackStudio)
  • LV2 — Linux-centric open plugin standard; some cross-platform support
  • ARA (Audio Random Access) — Celemony 2011; allows tighter DAW-plugin integration for time-based audio (Melodyne pitch-correction sees entire audio track, not just buffer); ARA 2 (2018) added to most major DAWs

3. Equalizer Plugins

  • FabFilter Pro-Q 4 (Netherlands; latest release) — industry-standard surgical/musical EQ; dynamic bands, linear-phase mode, spectrum analyzer with EQ Match, mid/side processing; USD 199
  • FabFilter Pro-Q 3 — still widely deployed; many studios upgraded but Q3 remains standard
  • Waves SSL E-Channel + E-Channel Strip + G-Equalizer — SSL 4000 console emulation
  • UAD Neve 1073 + Pultec EQP-1A + API 550A — vintage console + outboard EQ models on Universal Audio platform
  • Soothe 2 (oeksound) — dynamic resonance suppression; targets resonant peaks dynamically; USD 199; near-ubiquitous in modern mixing
  • SoundID Reference (Sonarworks, formerly Reference 4) — room correction + monitor calibration; measurement microphone included
  • MAAT thEQred + thEQorange + DDMF — boutique EQ plugins
  • PSP MasterQ2 — high-end mastering EQ
  • Brainworx bx_digital V3 — M/S surgical EQ via Plugin Alliance
  • SSL Native X-EQ 2 — SSL’s flagship native EQ

4. Compressors

  • FabFilter Pro-C 2 — modern transparent and character compressor; USD 199
  • Waves SSL G-Bus Compressor + 1176 + LA-2A + CLA Mixdown — SSL bus compressor + classic outboard models
  • UAD 1176 Rev A/E + Fairchild 670 + Manley Variable Mu + SSL 4000 G + LA-2A + La-3A + Distressor — Universal Audio’s compressor library; gold-standard hardware emulation
  • CLA-2A + CLA-76 + CLA-3A (Chris Lord-Alge) — Waves CLA signature line
  • Empirical Labs Distressor (hardware + UAD plug) — distinct character, popular on drums/vocals/bass
  • SSL Native G-Bus Compressor — SSL’s own bus compressor plugin
  • Klanghelm DC1A — free SSL-style compressor; popular entry-level
  • PSP VintageWarmer 2 — saturator + compressor hybrid; mastering staple
  • Acustica Audio Aqua Nebula + Diamond + Coffee The Pun — DSP-modeled hardware compressors using volterra-kernel approach

5. Reverbs

  • Valhalla DSP (Sean Costello, Seattle):
    • VintageVerb USD 50 — best-value reverb in audio; algorithmic with multiple character settings
    • Room USD 50 — versatile room/hall
    • Plate USD 50 — plate emulation
    • Shimmer USD 50 — pitch-shifted ambient
    • Delay USD 50
    • Supermassive (free) — massive ambient reverb/delay hybrid
  • Lexicon PCM Native Reverb Bundle — Lexicon’s own plugin port of PCM hardware algorithms
  • Eventide:
    • Blackhole — ambient reverb; USD 199
    • 2016 Stereo Room — emulation of SP2016 hardware classic; USD 99
  • FabFilter Pro-R 2 — natural-sounding parametric reverb; USD 199
  • UAD reverbs: Lexicon 480L + Lexicon 224 + Capitol Chambers + AMS RMX16 + EMT 140 + EMT 250 + Pure Plate
  • Liquidsonics:
    • Cinematic Rooms Professional — convolution-hybrid film reverb
    • Lustrous Plates — plate emulation
    • Seventh Heaven — Bricasti M7 emulation (USD 299)
    • Reverberate 3 — convolution engine
  • Altiverb 7 (Audio Ease, Netherlands) — convolution reverb; film post-production gold standard; extensive IR library (sampled spaces); USD 595
  • 2C Audio Aether + Breeze — algorithmic reverb
  • ValhallaPlate — separate Valhalla offering

6. Delays

  • Soundtoys EchoBoy — versatile multi-mode delay (Tape, Bouncing Ball, Studio, Memory Man, etc.); USD 199
  • Soundtoys PrimalTap — Lexicon Prime Time emulation
  • Waves H-Delay — Hybrid Delay; affordable workhorse
  • UAD delays: Galaxy Tape Echo (Roland RE-201 Space Echo emulation) + Cooper Time Cube + EP-34 Tape Echo + Studer A800 + Tel-Ray Variable Delay + Korg SDD-3000
  • ValhallaDelay USD 50 — versatile mode-rich delay
  • Eventide H3000 Factory — full H3000 hardware emulation; pitch + delay + modulation
  • Eventide UltraTap — multi-tap; USD 99
  • Eventide MicroPitch — micro pitch-shifted delay; USD 99

7. Saturation and Distortion

  • Soundtoys Decapitator — five analog distortion modes (A through E for various hardware); USD 199
  • Waves J37 — Abbey Road tape emulation; USD 199 list (often heavily discounted)
  • Waves Kramer Master Tape
  • UAD tape and saturation: Studer A800 + Ampex ATR-102 + Magnetics MM 2-Inch + Helios Type 69 + Neve 1073 Preamp + Manley Tube Preamp + UAD Neve 88RS
  • FabFilter Saturn 2 — multiband saturation; USD 199
  • Klanghelm SDRR — saturation modeller; budget excellent
  • PSP MixSaturator2 — modeller saturator
  • Acqua Effects Audio (Acustica) — high-CPU realistic plate emulations
  • Black Box Analog Design HG-2 — UAD emulation of hardware saturator; tube + transformer

8. Synthesizer Plugins (Virtual Instruments)

  • Native Instruments:
    • Massive (legacy wavetable) + Massive X (2019 successor)
    • Reaktor 6 — modular environment + huge user library
    • Kontakt 7 — industry-standard sample player platform; foundation for thousands of third-party sample libraries
  • Spectrasonics:
    • Omnisphere 2.8 USD 499 — flagship; vast library + synthesis engine
    • Trilian — bass-focused sampling synth
    • Stylus RMX — groove module + sample playback
    • Keyscape — sampled keyboards
  • Arturia V Collection 10 — emulations of vintage synths: Mini V, Jup-8 V, Synclavier V, DX7 V, CS-80 V, ARP 2600 V, etc.
  • Arturia Pigments 5 — modern wavetable + granular + virtual analog hybrid; USD 199
  • u-he (Berlin):
    • Diva — analog modelling; high CPU but praised character; USD 179
    • Repro-5 + Repro-1 — Prophet-5 and Pro-One emulations
    • Hive 2 — modern wavetable
    • Bazille — modular
    • Zebra2 + Zebralette + ZebraHZ — wavetable; Hans Zimmer signature variant
    • ACE — modular semi-modular
  • Vital (Matt Tytel) — modern wavetable synth; free plus Pro and Plus paid tiers
  • Serum (Xfer Records by Steve Duda, original LFOTool author) — flagship wavetable; widely used in EDM/dubstep production; Serum 2 (2024) — modern update with granular, multi-sampler
  • Sylenth1 (LennarDigital) — Dutch; virtual analog popular in EDM; older but maintained
  • Korg Collection — M1, Wavestation, ARP Odyssey, Triton software ports
  • Roland Cloud — subscription including Zenology + Concerto + System-8 + Jupiter-8 + Juno-106 + JX-3P + D-50 + SH-101 + SRX series ROM expansions
  • Waldorf — Nave wavetable + Largo + PPG Wave 3.V + Streichfett
  • Synth1 (Ichiro Toda) — free; widely used; OB-X + DX7 hybrid character
  • Falcon (UVI) — modular sampler/synth
  • Reaktor Blocks — modular framework within Reaktor

9. Sample Libraries

  • Spitfire Audio (London) — orchestral specialists:
    • BBC Symphony Orchestra Discover (free) — entry; BBCSO Core USD 499; BBCSO Professional USD 999
    • Spitfire Symphony Orchestra + Studio Strings + Chamber + Solo + Aperture
  • Heavyocity — cinematic/scoring focused:
    • Damage 2 — orchestral percussion
    • NOVO Modern Strings — string textures
    • Forzo — modern brass
    • Ascend — modern piano
    • Mosaic series
  • Cinematic Studio Series (Australian Yamaha + Sydney Symphony recordings):
    • CSS Cinematic Studio Strings
    • CSB Cinematic Studio Brass
    • CSW Cinematic Studio Woodwinds
    • CSSS Cinematic Studio Solo Strings
    • CSP Cinematic Studio Piano
  • EastWest — Hollywood Orchestra Opus Edition; Hollywood Pop Drums; ComposerCloud subscription
  • Vienna Symphonic Library (VSL) — Synchron Series (large hall recordings) + Studio Series; algorithmic articulation engine
  • Native Instruments Symphony Series + Action Series + Symphony Essentials
  • Output — Arcade subscription loop platform + Substance + Movement + Portal granular
  • Splice — cloud sample subscription; USD 10–17/month; 2M+ samples
  • Loopcloud — Sounds.com / Loopmasters sample subscription
  • ProjectSAM — Symphobia + True Strike + Swing! big band
  • Orchestral Tools — Berlin Strings + Berlin Brass + Berlin Woodwinds (later acquired by Native Instruments)
  • 8Dio + Soundiron — boutique sampling

10. Drum Sample Libraries / Instruments

  • Toontrack:
    • EZdrummer 3 USD 179 — entry drum library
    • Superior Drummer 3 USD 369 — professional with extensive multi-mic mixing
    • EZmix 3 — preset-based mixing assistant
  • XLN Audio Addictive Drums 2 — mid-range drum sampler
  • Native Instruments Battery 4 — drum sampler/synthesizer
  • Native Instruments Studio Drummer — Kontakt library
  • Steven Slate:
    • SSD 5.5 Steven Slate Drums 5.5
    • Trigger 2 — drum replacement
  • FabFilter Drum-Tone (newer entry into drums)
  • GetGood Drums GGD:
    • Modern & Massive — multi-mic drum library
    • Slow Heart — Adam “Nolly” Getgood signature
  • Sample Logic — cinematic percussion + chip + glitch libraries

11. Mastering Plugins

  • iZotope:
    • Ozone 11 (2023) — full mastering chain plus Master Assistant AI; includes EQ, Imager, Maximizer, Stabilizer, Tonal Balance, Match EQ, Vintage modules; USD 499 (Advanced) / USD 249 (Standard) / free Elements
    • Master Rebalance for stem-level rebalancing
  • FabFilter mastering:
    • Pro-L 2 — limiter; USD 199
    • Pro-MB — multiband compressor; USD 219
    • Pro-Q 3 — EQ
  • Sonnox Oxford Limiter v3 + Oxford Inflator + Oxford EQ
  • Weiss DS1-MK3 (hardware emulation by Maag/Softube) — Daniel Weiss mastering compressor
  • Voxengo Span — free spectrum analyzer
  • SPL Iron + PassEq + Vitalizer MK2-T
  • Sonible:
    • smart:limit — AI-assisted limiting
    • smart:EQ 4 — AI-assisted EQ
    • smart:comp 2 — spectro-dynamic compressor
  • Eventide Elevate — multiband limiter (Newfangled Audio with Eventide)
  • Brainworx bx_townhouse Buss Compressor — Townhouse SSL emulation
  • Plugin Alliance Lindell 354E + Brainworx bx_masterdesk

12. Vocal Processing

  • Antares Auto-Tune Pro 11 — original pitch correction; modern incarnation with Auto Mode and Graphical Mode
  • Celemony Melodyne — Peter Neubäcker; DNA Direct Note Access (polyphonic pitch editing) revolutionary
    • Studio, Editor, Assistant, Essential tiers
    • Melodyne 5 (current major version)
  • Waves Tune Real-Time — live auto-tune; competitor to Auto-Tune live mode
  • Soundtoys Little AlterBoy — pitch + formant shifter
  • Synchro Arts:
    • Revoice Pro 5 — full vocal alignment + tuning + breath suite
    • VocAlign 6 — vocal alignment
  • iZotope Nectar 4 — vocal channel strip + AI Vocal Assistant
  • iZotope RX 11 — see spectral processing below
  • Antares Auto-Key — automatic key detection
  • Antares Articulator — formant/consonant manipulation

13. Spectral Editing and Restoration

  • iZotope RX 11 Standard / Advanced — industry-standard audio restoration:
    • Spectral De-noise — broadband noise reduction
    • De-click + De-crackle + De-hum + De-buzz
    • Voice De-noise — ML-based
    • Spectral Repair — paintbrush-based time/frequency repair
    • Mouth De-click — vocal mouth-click removal
    • Dialog Isolate — separate dialog from background
    • De-rustle — lavalier rustle removal
    • Music Rebalance — stem-level mix rebalance
    • Dialogue Contour — pitch shift dialog for performance fix
  • Synchro Arts Revoice Pro 5 — vocal alignment
  • Cedar Audio (Cambridge UK) — professional cinema dialog restoration hardware/plugin; long-standing post-production standard
  • Zynaptiq Unveil — de-reverb plugin

14. AI-Enhanced Audio Tools (2018–2025)

  • iZotope Ozone Master Assistant + Music Production Suite Assistant — ML-based starting points
  • iZotope RX — many modules ML-based since 2018
  • Sonible smart series — AI-assisted EQ/comp/limit (2018+)
  • Output Co-Producer (2024) — generative music ideation tool
  • Sonic Charge Synplant 2 (2023) — MIDI-to-synth-patch using genopatch ML technique; suggests synth patches from audio input
  • LANDR mastering AI — online cloud mastering service since 2014
  • Audionamix — stem separation
  • Songmastr — online mastering AI
  • Splice Slice + Stems — sample slicing + stem separation
  • Audioshake — AI stem separation
  • Spleeter (Deezer 2019, open source) — early stem separator; basis for many tools
  • Hit’n’Mix Infinity — audio-source-separation editing
  • Synthesizer V (Dreamtonics) — AI vocal synthesizer (Japanese-origin) with realistic singing voices
  • UVR Ultimate Vocal Remover (open source, GitHub) — popular community stem-separation tool combining MDX/Demucs models
  • Demucs (Meta AI 2021) — open-source stem separator
  • Audimee + Voicemod + Kits.AI — voice transformation/cloning for music creators
  • Suno + Udio (2024) — full-track AI generation services; ongoing copyright litigation 2024 with RIAA labels

Adjacent Notes

Graph View